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Spectacular Sporting Events in Greater Palm Springs in 2017

With idyllic mountain backdrops and prime, peak-season conditions, Greater Palm Springs paints an annual sporting canvas which plays host to the world's best athletes and some of the nation's most celebrated and venerable tournaments. From court to course, get those tickets, ready those programs, charge those camera phones and join the field for these five must-attend sporting events for 2017.

CareerBuilder Challenge

Still referred to as the Hope by many, the rebranded CareerBuilder Challenge and ever-popular Pro-am brings the PGA TOUR back to La Quinta for the event's 58th annual playing this January 18-22, 2017.

CB's 2016 introduction to the desert included a course Rota change to PGA WEST's Stadium and Jack Nicklaus Tournament Courses (historic La Quinta Country Club remains in play). In turn, the tournament's makeover to include public plays provided an injection of new interest in the event. Now, the daily duffer can aim to conquer the Stadium's signature 17th in the same dramatic fashion which led Jason Dufner to victory (or, take on the course's leviathan San Andreas Fault bunkering which felled Phil Mickelson on No. 16).

With Mickelson recently named as Official Tournament Ambassador, fans can hope for a spectating experience which may well see the Hall of Famer bring with him some enhanced star power to the playing field.

BNP Paribas Open

The singular setting that is the Indian Wells Tennis Garden sees nearly a half-million fans annually attend the BNP Paribas, a venue and playing field befitting its unofficial moniker as the game's Fifth Grand Slam.

This year, the new Stadium 2 will continue to be the center of foodie attention when Nobu, Piero’s Pizza Vino and Chop House return as pop-up restaurants.

To learn more about ticketing, draw and on-site dining, volley your way to the BNP Paribas Open page.

Empire Polo Club

Sure, you've heard about and attended the Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals, but don’t forget what this Indio venue was made for.

Starting with its official Polo Opening Day on January 1, 2017 and running through April 2, the Empire Polo Club's regular Sunday matches make for a relaxed and inclusive milieu of sun and fun. Games begin at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., offering free general admission to the public (with a $20 parking fee) and a recently-expanded VIP area, where guests pony up $25 per person (parking included).

A select, Friday Night Game under the lights schedule is also in play on January 20 (5:30 p.m.), February 17 (5:30 p.m.) and March 17 (6:30 p.m.).

For game rules, dress tips, ticket information and scheduling (note that no polo is played on January 15 and March 5), canter to our Empire Polo Club page.

ANA Inspiration

Golf's first major championship of the season returns to Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage this March 27 – April 2, 2017, and brings with it the pedigree and performance of the world's best ladies.

Save for The Masters Tournament, the ANA Inspiration (yes, some still call it the Dinah) is golf's longest-running event continuously held at the same locale.

Last year, teen sensation and then world No. 1 Lydia Ko conquered the Dinah Shore Tournament Course to make the iconic champion's leap into Poppie's Pond beside the 18th green. Amid a burgeoning ladies landscape of competition, Ms. Ko will have her hands full in '17 as she seeks to become the event's first back-to-back winner since Annika Sorenstam in 2001 and 2002.

Make a leap over to the ANA Inspiration page to learn more about venue, tickets and a week full of events on and off the course.

Judd Spicer serves as the Co-Host of “The Press Box” radio show, weekdays from 4-5 PM (PST) on ESPN 103.9 FM (Palm Springs, California). He is a two-time award-winning, veteran freelance writer and Associate Member of the Golf Writers Association of America. After 12 years of covering MLB, NBA, NCAA and the active golf landscape of the Twin Cities, he relocated to the Palm Springs region in 2011 to further pursue his writing endeavors, golf game and Champions Tour dream. He contributes to a host of national, regional and local outlets, with wide-ranging print and online clients such as the SCGA’s FORE Magazineand plusFORE digital mag, The Golf Channel.com, Palm Springs Life and the Desert Publications, Inc. family of magazines, the Greater Palm Springs Conventions Bureau, and The Desert Sun newspaper, for which he also pens a regular column. To read Judd’s work, please visit his professional writing website.